Günther R. Burkert

The social relevance of universities will increase again if they bring their (forgotten) "human image of independence" into the competition against Silicon Valley's idea of "shaping people".Based on the thesis that the social relevance of universities depends on their commitment to a "human image of independence", this volume deals with the development possibilities of universities and their obstacles in the "new" (teaching and learning) space against the background of the possibilities offered by the Internet. What new reception, evaluation and production practices are emerging as a result of the digital transformation of science? Does the digital transformation jeopardise the autonomy of universities? What kind of university management is required for autonomy in the digital transformation? Or does the future of universities lie more in holding on to "intellectual oases of deceleration" as creative places beyond all digitalisation?